China Opens Ethnic Work Conference 　　The Central Ethnic Work Conference and the third national conference to honor groups and individuals for promoting ethnic progress opened in Beijing on September 29. 　　Chinese top leaders Jiang Zemin, Li Peng, Zhu Rongji, Li Ruihuan, Hu Jintao, Wei Jianxing and Li Lanqing attended both meetings. 　　Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji presided over the meetings, and Chinese President Jiang Zemin delivered speeches. 　　Some 384 representatives of China's 56 nationalities are attending the five-day ethnic work conference, and 423 are participating in the national conference, along with 4,000 government officials and individuals from all walks of life. 　　Wang Zhongyu, Chinese state councilor and secretary-general of the State Council, read decision by the State Council on honoring model collectives and individuals for promoting ethnic unity and progress. 　　Jiang Zemin awarded plaques to model units and individuals who have promoted ethnic unity and progress. 　　Jiang, also general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, presented the plaques at the opening ceremony of the Central Ethnic Work Conference, the third such event. 　　Also present at the ceremony were top Chinese leaders Li Peng, Zhu Rongji, Li Ruihuan, Hu Jintao,Wei Jianxing and Li Lanqing. 　　The firt two ceremonies were held in 1988 and 1994. 　　A total of 1,254 units and individuals received honors at the meeting, which opened here today. 　　Among the groups cited, party and government organs accounted for 49.92 percent, enterprises for 9.73 percent, educational institutions for 7.02 percent, and military units, 4.47 percent. 　　Of the individuals, 36.41 percent were of the Han nationality, and the rest were from ethnic groups. 　　This is the second conference on ethnic work sponsored by the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee. The first was in 1992. HomeNews 1999-09-30 Page1 Full Story in Chinese